Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1887-06-25
CHAPTER Xxx.
TRIUMPH.

OI1al En- A.
TRIUMPH
Then followed moment Of the most pain
full silence that ever endured. 1t was broken
by Ayesha, who addressed herself to Leo
"Nay, now, my lord and guest, 1" she said, in
her softest tones, which yet had the ring Of
steel about them "look not so bashful Surely
the sight was pretty one-the leopard and
the lionw
3Oh, hang 1t alll' said Leo, In English.
"And thou, Ustane," she went on, ''s,irely !
should have passed thee by had not the light
fallen on the white across thy hair. Well!
we'll the dance IL done-see, the tapers have
burned down, and all things end in darkness
and In ashes. SO thou thoughtest it a 1T
time for love, Ustsne, my servant-and /,
dreaming not that / could be disobeyed.
thought thee already far away.r
"Play not with me" moaned the wretched
woman; "slay me, and let there be an end. I"
sNay, whyi 1t is not well to SO 50 swift
from the hot lips OF love down to the cold
mouth of the grave" and she made motion
to the mutes, who instantly stepped up and
caught the girl by either arm. With an oath
Leo sprung upon the nearest, and hurled him
to the ground, and then stood over him with
his face set and his fist ready.
| Again Ayesha laughed. at was well
| thrown, my guest; thou hast strong arm for
ono who 80 late was sick But now out OF
thy courtesy pray thee lot that man live
and do my bidding. He shall not harm the
| girl; the night air grows chill, and would
welcome her In mine own place. Surely she
whom thou dost favor shall be favored of me
also.n
took Leo by the arm, and pulled him from
the PROSTATE mute. and he, half bewildsred,
| obeyed the pressure Then we all set out FOR
the cave across the plateau, where great pile
Of white human ashes was all that remained
Of the fire that had lit the dancing, for the
dancers had vanished
In due course we gained Ayesha's boudoir-
all too soon 1t seemed to me, having a sad pre-
sage OF what was to come lying heavy on my
heart.
Ayesha seated herself upon her cushions
and having dismissed Job and Billali. by
signs bade the mutes tend the lamps and re-
tire, all save one girl, who was her favorits
personal attendant. We three remained
standing, the unfortunate Ustane q little t.
the left Of the rest OF us.
Now, 0 Holly" Ayesha began, show
Nsshfc ~ tuub tuOu NHO uluSt near my WOrQi
bidding this evil doer'-and she pointed t
} Ustane--ato 60 from hence-thou at who's,
prayer did weakly spare her life--how cani.
1t, ! say, that thou vast sharer in what
saw tonight Answer, and for thine owl
sake, say, speak the truth. for am moi
minded TO hear lies upon this matter"
at was by accident, o queen answered
II knew naught Of it,
u " do believe thee, o Holly,s sn.
answered, coldly; @and well 1t Is for thee tina
do. Then does all the guilt rest upon her.
II don't see any particular guilt about it,
/ broke In Leo "She Is not anybody else'
wife, and 1t appears that she has married m,
, according to the custom Of this awful place
! 50 who Is the worsei Anyway, madame b,
went on, whatever she has DONE hav,
. done, too, 80 II she Is to be punished, let mi
be punished also; and tell thee" be won't on
working hbAself up into fury, shat IL tho,
biddest one Of those deaf and dumb villains t,
touch her again viii tear him to pieces
, And he looked as though he meant it.
|, Ayesha listened in Icy silence, and made n,
remark. When he had finished, however. sh
addressed Ustane
"Hast thou aught to say, woman9 Tho,
D.
{ doat toward thy passions petty ends, evel
, against the great wind of my will Tell me
] Tor fain would understand. Why dds
! thou this thingT
; And then think saw the most treme,
/, ,lous exhibition Of moral courage and in
5 sycpidity that It Is possible to conceive. Fo
a fbe poor doomed girl, knowing what she hat
to expect at the hands OF her terrible queen
a knowing, too, from bitter experience, how
: great was her power, yet gathered herscl
: together and out OF the very depths Of de
) spair found materials to defy her.
4 II did it, o queen,S she answered, drawing
herself up TO the full Of her stately height ans
) throwing back the panther skin off her head
9 because my love IS stronger than the grave
{ I did 1t because my life without this maj
whom my heart chose would be but a Twin,
/ death. Therefore did risk my life; an,
D now that / know that 1t is forfeit to thin
} anger yet am glad that did risk it, an,
? pay it away in the Fisking. ay, because b
4 embraced me once and told me that he We
q loved me.n
: Here Ayesha half rose from her couch an,
3 then sunk down again
4 II have no magic went on Ustane, he
. rich voice ringing strong and fun, ''and an
/ not queen, nor do / live forever, but
r uomans heart is heavy to sink througl
y waters, however deep, queen And
5 woman's eyes are quick 20 see, even througl
; thy veil, o queen
/ aListen; know It; thou. dost love this maj
0 Myself. and therefore wsuldst thou dsstrc.
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